Blind guide



July 3,1945. Q E, EDSTRQM 2,379,426-

BLIND GUIDE Filed June 27, 1944 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 July 3, 1945.

BLIND GUIDE Filed June 27, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVEA/Tb/L.

o. E. EDSTROM' 2,379,426

Patented July 3, 1945 'tittoiE Edstrom, sasraieaoge t.f, .1

Application June 27, 1944, SerialNah 12,381 4 .6Claims. (oust-"47f I Myinvention relates to improvements in a guide for a blind person whereinthe usually forwardly inclined and exploring cane is provided with'afreely swivelled caster on the lower end thereof which operates inconjunction with a horizontally disposed wheel rotatably mounted,

immediately above said caster, to facilitate exploration of acontemplated course and to harmlessly contact and locate objects thereonor adjacent thereto, or corners, curbs or other impedimenta with which apath of the sightless may be beset.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved guide for the sightless, by means of which all impedimenta uponor adjacent a contemplated path may easily be located.

Another object is to provide a new and improved device of the characterset forth, having improved means for relieving the hand of an operatorof the strain incident-to exploration with a forwardly projectedexploring cane.

A further object is to provide anew and im proved device of the typedescribed which easily may be constructed and operated witha minimumeffort and having a maximum efficiency.

' A still further object is to provide a new and improved guide for theperipatetic blind which may harmlessly contact objects within aprojected course.

A still further object is to provide a, new and improved cane or guidefor the sightless whose projected or exploring end may easily andsilently roll along a vertical as well as a horizontal surface withoutdamage to either surface.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved devicedisclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application'andin which-- Fig. l is a side elevation of my device as in use; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken plan .view'of the lower or supported end ofthe guide; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken side. elevation, partly in verticalsection, of the lower portion of the guide.

cane I is mounted a freely swivelled caster 6,

preferably provided with a cushioned tire I of rubber or other suitableresilient material. The spindle or pivot 8 of the caster 6 is rotatablymounted Within a bore 9 within the bottom end of the vertical portion 2of the cane I andis provided with an annular groove engaged by a crosspin I 2, inserted transversely through the" cane I toretain said spindlein assembled position. A horizontally disposed wheel I4, having acushion tire I6, is rotatably mounted immediately above the caster 6,and preferably upon the pivot or spindle 8 thereof.

In operation:

A blind person grasps the flattened horizontal portion 3 at the upperend of the cane I, the

flat sides and shoulders 4 readily indicating by touch to an operatorthat the device is in a, vertical or operative position, as disclosed inFig. 1 of the drawings. That is to say that the lower end 2 of the caneI is substantially vertical so that the forwardly projected or exploringend of the cane. I easily may be pushed forwardly ahead of the operator,as indicated by the straight arrows in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, orfreely swung laterally in both directions, as indicated by the'curveddouble arrow in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in order more easilyto'explore acontemplated path and locate adjacent objects or 0bstructions' whichmight impede progress along a by the caster 6 is moving forwardly orlaterally,

It should be particularly noted that the caster 6 also operates as asubstantial supporting means for the forwardly projecting andexploring-end 2 of the cane I, thereby relieving the hand and wrist ofan operator of'the weight'of said projected cane and any strain incidentthereto.

It should also. be noted that the caster 6, being freely swivelled, maybe moved forwardly as well as laterally with a minimum effort so thatobjects or obstructions directly within a contemplated path easily maybe located.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A blind guide comprising acane; a rolling support upon the lower end of said Canefand ahorizontally disposed wheel mounted upon the lower end of said cane andabove said rolling support.

2. A blind guide comprising a cane; a rolling support freely swivelledupon the lower end of said cane; a horizontally disposed wheel rotatableupon said cane and positioned directly above said rolling supportthereon, and cushioning means mounted upon said horizontally disposedwheel.

3. A blind guide comprising a cane; a cushioned tired caster swivelledupon the lower end of said cane; and a horizontal wheel rotatablymounted upon said lower end of said cane.

4. A blind guide comprising a cane; a. cushioned tired caster freelyswivelled upon the lower end of said cane; a horizontal wheel rotatably'mounted on said cane above said caster; and a cushioned rim mounted uponsaid horizontal wheel.

5. A blind guide comprising a cane having a vertical lower portion and asubstantially horizontal upper portion; a caster freely swivelled uponthe lower end of said cane; a horizontally disposed wheel rotatablymounted upon the swivel pivot of said caster; and means upon the upperend of said cane to indicate operative position thereof.

6. A blind guide comprising a substantially inclined cane having avertical lower end and a substantially horizontal upper end; a cushiontired caster freely swivelledupon the lower end of said cane; ahorizontally disposed wheel rotat-

